The pair of 2014 graduates recently signed with the AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders.

Former Minuteman Michael Pereira has signed an AHL contract with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Aug. 6, 2014

AMHERST, Mass. -
UMass hockey alumni Michael Pereira and Adam Phillips both recently signed American Hockey League contracts with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, for the 2014-15 season. The pair graduated from UMass this spring after completing their careers with the Minutemen in 2013-14.

It marks the first professional contract for Phillips, who attended development camp with the Minnesota Wild last month. Phillips, who transitioned from defenseman to forward midway through his UMass career, appeared in 124 games over four seasons and totaled 50 points on 23 goals and 27 assists. He finished with six career game-winning goals and 12 power play tallies, to rank tied for seventh and tied for 14th in program history, respectively. In his final campaign with the Minutemen, Phillips played in a career-high 34 games and tied a career best with 15 points.

Pereira made his professional debut this past March while on an amateur tryout agreement with the Worcester Sharks of the AHL and scored his first professional goal on March 16 in a 5-1 win over the Manchester Monarchs.

Pereira ended his time at UMass with his named littered throughout the school's record book and, on Jan. 25 at Merrimack this past season, became just the fifth player to reach both the 100-point and 50-goal milestones. In 135 career games, he amassed 53 goals and 54 assists, 107 points, ranking fourth all-time in career goals and tied for sixth in points. He also finished his career ranked second in program history for career power-play goals (21), tied for eighth in shorthanded goals (3) and tied for 12th in game-winning goals.

Pereira posted double-digit goal and 20-plus point totals over all four years of his collegiate career, including 22 points (11g, 11a) in 34 games as a senior. He led UMass with eight power-play goals in 2013-14, equaling the fifth-best single season total all-time for the Minutemen.